by Hayley Robinson

A birthday treat ended in agony when a teenager was involved in a freak accident.

Tom Standing was riding in a side kart around Sittingbourne Speedway track when his right foot become trapped between the back wheel and the metal frame of the motorbike.

It was being driven by his grandad Paul Standing who had arranged the family outing to mark Tom’s 18th which he celebrated with friends the day before.

Mum Jayne was in the crowd when the accident happened at the Iwade track on Sunday at 1.10pm.

She said: "At first I thought they were pulling over, then when they stopped and I saw he fell a little I knew something wasn’t right.

"I went running across the ground and as I went to turn around to shout for help I saw the St John Ambulance people were already behind me."

Realising there was no way of freeing him without causing further injury they dialled 999.

Kent Air Ambulance arrived, but was not needed, and a land ambulance took Tom to Medway Maritime Hospital after Sittingbourne firefighters freed his foot using hydraulic cutting equipment.

An X-ray revealed he’d suffered a fractured ankle. He underwent an operation later that day to have it pinned.

The family is waiting to find out if Tom needs to be transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital, in East Grinstead, for a skin graft to repair damage to the heel of his foot.

Tom, from Erith, who has been using the track since he was 11, said: "My foot just slipped off the footrest.

"I’ve had small accidents in the past but nothing like this.

"We were meant to have a little celebration at the track later that day but obviously that didn’t happen.

"I’ve no idea how long I’ll be out of action for."

Paul, who has been involved with motor racing for 50 years, praised those helped his grandson.

The 59-year-old, from Gravesend, said: "It was unbelievable how everyone worked together, from the track staff to the emergency services. It was a shining example of how to deal with what happened on the day, which was a freak accident."